New production methods for solid-state electrolytes give manufacturers more options for the structure and size of lithium ion batteries.
A team led by Argonne chemist Jeffrey Elam has patented techniques to form thin, solid electrolyte coatings that can be applied to a wide range of solid-state battery designs. Their atomic layer deposition methods create a composite of lithium and boron to form a lithium borate substrate.
This approach can produce uniform films on complex structures over a large area, enabling manufacturers to safely produce solid-state batteries in more powerful, cost-effective shapes and sizes.